Sorting machine



C. M. HANNA SOR'I'ING MACHINE Sept. 2 1924.

Filed June 2. 1921 4 2 Zn 5 Z 1 ed on the wall 10.

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES CARL M- HANNA, or DEL Nome, COLORADO.

SORTING MACHINE.

Application filed June 2,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL M. HANNA, a citizen ol the United States, residing at Del Norte. in the county of Rio Grande and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Sorting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in sorting machines and it has for its object to provide a simple, efiicient and rapid working device adapted to sort large and small vegetables (or fruits) from one another, and convey the sorts to different receptacles therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide the combination of a rotary screen and conveyor, whereby the screen may sort out -large from small vegetables, such as potatoes, etc., and deliver them to the conveyor from which they are deposited into different receptacles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in combination with a sorting machine a sack-holding device whereby sacks may be held open to receive sorts from a conveyor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sorting screen in combination. with runners upon which the machine is mounted whereby said machine may be readily moved from one place to another.

With the above and other Objects in view, I have invented the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 1s a side elevational view of my improved sorting machine,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the following specification: and in the several views in the drawings, in which 1 indicates a sorting machine consisting of a frame work 2 mounted upon runners 3 and 4. The forward end of said machine is provided with a hopper 5 for receiving vegetables, such as potatoes, or fruits. such as apples, peaches, etc. Mounted in one side f said hopper is the end 7 of a shaft 8, the other end of which has a bearing in a bearing member 9 mount- On the end 11 of the I shaft 8 is a bevel gear 12 in mesh with a bevel gear 13 on a shaft 14 supported by the bearing 15 at one end and in the side wall 16 of the frame 2 at its other end. This 7 shaft is rotated by means of a sprocket Serial No. 474,353.

wheel 17 driven by the sprocket chain 18 which in turn is driven by a sprocket wheel 19 operated by a hand crank 20. Fixed to rotate upon the shaft 8 is a cylindrical screen 21, the mesh of which may be of any desired size in order to permit culls or small vegetables or fruits to fall therethrough on to theendless conveyor 22. This conveyor carries the culls to the end 23 of the machine. They are guided however by means of-the inclined guide board 24 to the assage way 25 between the side wall 26 0 the machine and the division wall 10 thereof, from whence they are deposited by said conveyor in a sack 27 mount ed upon the sack holder 28. The product being sepa'ratedwhich will not pass through the mesh of the screen 21 will fall through the opening 29 of the screen into the assageway 30 and onto the conveyor w ich will carry the same to the sack 31. v Pivotally connected to the gear 32 operated by the combined gear and sprocket wheel -19 is an agitator rod 33, the other end ofwhich is pivotally mounted upon thc crank 3 1, one end of which projects into the hopper 5 and operates the kicker 36 whereby the contents of the hopper is caused to continually gravitate to and from the spout 37 into the end 35 of the screen 21 From the above description. it will readily be seen that I have provided a simple and very efficient fruit and vegetable separator that may beoperatjed rapidly and'with com paratively little exertion. The gear" wheel 32 is fixedly mounted upon and operates a shaft 38 over which the conveyor 22 passes and by means of which it is operated, the

other end of said an idler shaft 39.

Having described my invention, that which I claim to be new is:

1. A device of the character described consisting of a trough having an end less conveyor bottom throughout its length, a division wall, a hopper, a shaft parallel with said conveyor supported by said hopper and division wall forming two passages, a cylindrical screen fixedly mounted upon said shaft to rotate therewith said screen having open ends one of which aligns .with said hopper and the other of which aligns with one of said assages.

2. A device 0? the character described consisting of a trough havin an endless conveyor bottom throughout ts length, a

conveyor operating over division wall, a hopper, a shaftparallel with Said conveyor supported bysaid hopper and division wall forming two passages, a cylindrical screen fixedly mounted upon said shaft to rotate therewith said screen having open ends one of which aligns with said hopper and the other of which aligns with one of said passages, one end of said shaft extending over said division wall. a gear on said end and means for operating said gear.

3. A device of the character described consisting of a trough having an endless conveyor bottom throughout its length, :i division wall, a hopper, a shaft parallel with said conveyor su ported by said hopper and division wall fbrming two passages, a cylindrical screen fixedly mounted upon said shaft to rotate therewith said screen having open ends. one of which aligns with said hopper and the other of which aligns with one. of said passages, one end of said shaft extending overfsaid division wall, a gear on said end and means for operating said gear, said means being at the end of said trough opposin said hopper.

4. A device of t e character described consisting of a trough having an endless conveyor bottom throughout its length. a division wall, a. hopper, a shaft parallel with said conveyor supportedby said hopper and division Wall forming two passages, a screen fixedly mounted upon said shaft to rotate therewith said screen having open ends one of which. aligns with said hopper and the other of which aligns With one of said passages, one end of said shaft extending over said division Wall, a gear on said end and means for operating said gear, said means being at the end of said trough opposing said hopper, said means being adapted to actuate said conveyor.

,5. A device of the char-actor described,

including a trou h, a hopper at one end of said trough, a saft mounted parallel and substantially centrally ofsaid trough and a rotatable. Screen mounted upon said shaft,

an endless conveyor forming the bottom of said trough and operatingparallel with said screen throughout its length,a division wall mounted in proximity to the medial line of said trough, and forming a support for one end of said shaft, said ho per forming a bearing support for the other end of said shaft- 6. A device of the character described,

including a trou h, a hopper at one, end of s aidltrough, a s aft mounted parallel and substantially centrally of said trou h and rotatable screen mounted upon said shaft, an endless conveyor forming the bottom of said trough andoperating parallel with said screen throughout its length, a. division wall mounted in proximity to theinedial line of line of said trough, and forming a support for one end of said shaft, said hopper forming a bearing support for the other end of said shaft, said screen being cylindrical and having its ends open; said hopper having an outlet into one of said open ends.

8. A device of the character described, including a trough, a hopper at one end of said trough, a shaft mounted parallel and ubstantially centrally of said trough and a rotatable screen mounted upon said shaft,

an endless conveyor forming the bottom of said trough and operating parallel with said screen throughout its length, a division wall mounted in proximity to the medial line of said trough, and forming a. support for one end of said shaft, said hop-per forming a bearing support for the other end of said shaft, said screen being cylindrical and hav ng its ends open, said hopper having an outlet into one of said open ends, a shaft mounted transversely of said trough and gears connecting said shafts.

9. A device of the character described, including a trough a hopper at one end of said trough, a shaft mounted parallel and substantially centrally of said trough and a rotatable screen mounted upon said shaft, an endless conveyor forming the bottom of said trough andoperating parallelwith said screen throughout its length, a division wall mounted in roximity to the medial line of said troug and forming a support for one end of said shaft, said hopper forming a bearing supportfor the other end of said shaft, said screen being cylindrical and having its ends open, said hopper having an outlet into one of said open ends, a shaft mounted transversely of said trough and gears connecting said shafts, a sprocket shaft over which said conveyor operates.

10. A device ofthe character described, including a trough, a hopper at one end of said trough, a shaft mounted parallel and substantially centrally of said trough and a rotatable screen mounted upon said shaft, an endless conveyor forming the bottom of said trough and operating parallel with said screen throughout its length, a division wall mounted in proximity to the medial line of said trough, and forming a support for one saidtrou'gh, and forming a support for one end of said shaft, said hopper forming a bearing support for the other end of said shaft. said screen being cylindrical and having its ends open. said hopper having an outlet into one of said open ends, a shaft mounted transversely of said trough and gears connecting said shaft, 3. sprocket shaft over which said conveyor operates. a common means for operating all of said shafts.

11. A device of the character described, including a trough. a hopper at one end of said trough. a shaft mounted parallel and substantially centrally of said trough and a rotatabie screen mounted upon said shaft, an endless conveyor forming the bottom of said trough and operating parallel with said screen. a division wall mounted in proximity to the medial line of said trough, and forming a support for one end of said shaft, said hopper forming a bearing support for the other end of said shaft. said screen being ylindrical and having its ends open. said hopper having an outlet into one of said open ends. a shaft mounted transversely of said trough and gears connecting said shafts. a sprocket shaft over which said conveyor operates. a common means for operatinc all of said shafts; an. agitator within said hopper and means connected with said last means for operating said agitator.

12. A device of the character described, including a. trough, a hopper at one end of said trough. a shaft mounted parallel and substantially centrally of said trough and a rotatable screen mounted upon said shaft, an endless conveyor forming the bottom of said trough and operating; parallel With said screen, a division wall mounted in proximity to the medial line of said trough, and forming a support for one end of said shaft, said division wall forming two passageways.

13. A device of the character described, including a trough, a hopper at one end of said trough. a shaft mounted parallel and substantially centrally of said trough, and a rotatable screen mounted upon said shaft, an endless conveyor forming the bottom of said trough and operating parallel with said screen, a division wall mounted in proximity to the medial line of said trough. and forminna support for one end of said shaft, Said division wall forming two passageways, a guide adjacent the free end of said screen for directing potatoes into one of said passageways.

14. A device of the character described, including a trough, a hopper at one end of said trough, a shaft mounted. parallel and substantially centrally of said troulgh. and a rotatable screen mounted upon said shaft, an endless conveyor forming the hottom of said trough and operating parallel with said screen, a division wall mounted in proximity to the medial line of said trough, and forming a support for one end of said shaft, said division wall forming two passageways, a guide adjacent the free end of said screen for directing potatoes into one of said passageways, said screen having a free open end aligning with the other of said passage ways.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CARL M. HANNA.

Witnesses:

LEE FAIRBANKS, EARL BOND. 

